Stupid question, but....

Does the locost, as per the book, run the same track and wheel base as it's donor?

No I dont think so. The rear width would be as its determined by the diff and driveshafts lengths. The Locost seems a lot thinner at the front though and the wheelbase I think is shorter also.

Hi

TRACK. The original Locost used the escort back axle wich dependent upon wheel offset gave the same rear track as the escort donor. At the front depending on which manufacturer your kit came from the front was equal or slightly narrower by 50mm or so.

IRS versions of the Locost came in many different guises. The cheaper manufacturers just used the same track as the SIERRA donor to save shortening the rear drive shafts this gave them approximately 200mm wider rear track than the escort. But some used shorter drive shafts so that there rear track was only 100mm wider than the escort.

Wheelbase The exact wheelbase was different on many of the kit supplied chassis due to the fact that you could not get two readings the same from the book. But generally it was around 92" give or take 1" depending on how the book was interpreted by individuals. The later offerings from many of the Locost manufacturers who started doing there own versions mostly kept to the wheelbase from the original book but a few lengthened there chassis by a few inches to accommodate taller drivers.

Cheers Matt

Edit to say the answer is NO. Non of the Locosts where exactly the same as there original donors.

[Edited on 5/9/08 by procomp]